Manger.



S. W. JAE-GER.

MANGER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1910.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

IfJl/ENTOR Jamaal/14in WITNE88E8:

ATTORNEYS us co. wAsmNGroN. uc SAMUEL W. JAEGER, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY.

MAN GER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented-Apr. 4, 1911.

Application filed May 2, 1910. Serial No. 558,773.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL WV. J AEGER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bayonne, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Manger, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to mangers or feed containers for horses or other draft animals, and has reference more particularly to a device of this class which comprises a movable container for oats or other feed, means for holding the container in an operative, elevated position, and means for removably securing the first means, so that the container can be released to permit it to assume an inoperative position.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, strong and durable feed container or manger, which is compact in form, and inexpensive to manufacture, which, in an operative position is so arranged that the animal can easily reach the feed therein and can consume all of the feed, whlch can assume an inoperatlve posltion gravltatlonally when the catch holding the manger elevated is released, and in which the catch can be associated with the alarm system of a fire-house when the manger is used for feeding the draft animals of fire-fighting apparatus, so

that the manger can be automatically, inoperatively disposed.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts. to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of my invention mounted in a stall, and illustrating the manger in an operative position; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the manger in an inoperative position; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the catch.

Before proceeding to a more detailed explanation of my invention, it should be clearly understood that while the manger is particularly useful in fire houses, for feeding the draft animals of fire-fighting apparatus, it can also be advantageously employed under other circumstances. I have found that frequently, the horses used with fire apparatus, even if well trained, will refuse to leave their stalls if an alarm rings while they are feeding. My invention overcomes this difficulty, as the manger is automatically released when the alarm rings, and the horse can then no longer obtain the feed, and will therefore not refuse to run from its stall to the apparatus, in the customary manner. At the same time, the manger is so constructed that when it assumes an inoperative position there is no tendency to spill the contents thereof. If so desired the manger need not be connected with the alarm system, but can be released by hand when necessary.

Certain of the details of construction form no part of the invention, and can be varied in accordance with individual preference and special conditions, without departing from the underlying spirit of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have shown for example, a wall 10 of a stall. Upon the wall is fastened a pair of brackets 11, by means of screws or bolts 12. The brackets have lugs 13, extending at right angles from the wall, and are preferably fashioned from cast metal or other similar material. Arms 14:, consisting" of flat bars or rods of metal, are pivotally mounted upon the lugs 13, by means of pivot screws or rivets 15. At the free ends, the arms have bearing openings 16, for a purpose to appear hereinafter.

The feed container proper may be of any suitable form. though I prefer to employ a bag 17 fashioned from canvas or other fabric, and mounted upon a supporting ring 18, the bag being secured thereon by a wind ing of cord 19, or in any other suitable manner. At diametrically opposite points, the ring has trunnions 20, which are journaled in the bearing openings 16 at the ends of the arms 14. The arms, intermediate their ends are connected by a cross-rod 21.

I employ a keeper rod 22, having the upper end 23 laterally curved, and provided with a bearing eye 24, by means of which the keeper rod is pivotally mounted upon the cross rod 21. An opening 25 is formed in a wall of the stall and has a catch plate 26 mounted above the same. The catch plate is secured in position by means of screws or bolts 27, and has a substantially central slot or opening 28. At the back it has lugs 29, between which is pivoted a catch 30, by means of a suitable pin 31. The catch is of 7 vertical plane,

tapered form, and normally extends through the opening 28. At the back of the plate it has an arm 32, which is engaged by a spring 33. The latter seats against the plate and tends normally to force the arm 32 backward, to project the catch proper through the opening 28. At the upper end, the catch presents a shoulder or face 34, and has a stop extension 35, which engages at the back of the plate, at the upper end of the opening 28. The catch is connected with the alarm system (not shown), by means of a line 36, or in any other suitable manner. The catch serves to hold the manger in an operative position when the lower end of the keeper rod 22 is positioned upon the shoulder 3tof the catch. The parts are so proportioned that when the keeper is positioned thus, the arms are substantially horizontal, and hold the feed bag near the middle of the head end of the stall, in a convenient position for the animal. Then the catch is displaced, against the tension of the spring, by means of a pull exerted by the alarm system upon the line 36, the lower end of the keeper is freed, and the bag will move downward gravitationally, the bag swinging into position against the wall of the .stall. At the same time, the ring 18 of the bag engages the keeper, and rides upon the same. This swings the ring into a substantially and allows the bag to rest comparatively fiat against the wall of the stall. The flexible nature of the container permits the ring to assume a vertical position, and prevents the spilling of the feed.

Having thusdescribed my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1 A' device of the class described,'co-mprising a movable container tending gravitationally to assume an inoperative position, a keeper for holding the said container in an elevated operative position, a releasable catch for holding said keeper operative, and means whereby when said catch is released, said container assumes a partly inverted position and is disposed to one side.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a movable container tending gravitationally to assume an inoperative position a keeper for holding said container in an.

elevated, operative position, and a releasable, spring-pressed and normally operative catch for holding said keeper operative, said container, when said catch is released, engaging said keeper to ride into a predetermined position.

3. A device of the class described comprising a movable container, consisting o a rim and a feed bag secured thereto, a keeper'ior holding said container in an elevated operative position with said rim substantially horizontal, a releasable catch for holding said keeper operative, and means whereby when said catch is released said container assumes a position disposed toone side and with said rim in a substan tially vertical position. 7

4s. A device of the class described, com: prising a pair ot'movably mounted arms, a ring pivotally carried by said arms, a feed bag carried by said ring, a keeper for holding said arms in normally elevated positions, and a displaceable catch for operatively positioning said keeper, said ring engaging said keeper when said keeper is released, whereby said ring rides into a vertical position when the device assumes an inoperative position.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a pivoted arm, a keeper for holding said arm in a normal elevated position, a releasable catch for holding said keeper in an operative position, said keeper in a normal position being arranged at an angle with the horizontal, and a container pivotally carried by said arm and comprising a ring, and a bag carried thereby, said ring being normally in a horizontal plane when said arm is elevated, and being adapted to engage said keeper when said member is released and said arm swings downward, whereby said ring is displaced into a substantially.

vertical plane.

In testimony whereof I have signed myname to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL WV. JAEGER.

"Vitnesses JOHN K. BRACHVOGEL, PHILIP D. RoLLHAUs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

